Sevenmile-Scratchgravel Mining District, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA

Largest Baveno twinned Feldspar crystals found at the site to date. Crystal is exactly 3 inches long, when backlit the crystal is rather translucent, Inclusions of chlorite (green) and most likely hematite (red) originally believed to be calcite crystals due to reaction with Acid when initially found. SEM testing showed alkali feldspar residual ...

© Rick Rowsey

Small vugs of Chrysocolla coated in quartz, matrix is garnet, calcite, and quartz. The Chrysocolla is rather gemmy when back lit.

© Rick Rowsey

Garnets coated in yellow calcite micro-crystals, collected from a small pocket in 2018.

© Rick Rowsey

Sharp cluster of Garnet crystals, this is fairly typical for the upper section of the skarn where garnets are locked in a matrix of white Calcite.

© Rick Rowsey

Collected from the dumps from the mine.

© Rick Rowsey

Sharp complete crystal of Feldspar, the crystal has good translucence through the core and shows well when backlit. All Feldspars from this Skarn show flashy Adularescence similar to what's seen with moonstone and labradorites.

Fine cluster of clear Rhombohedral Calcite that formed in a small cavity, along side a mixture of minerals from a different layer of the main skarn. Purple mineral on the close-up photo is Fluorite tested by Raman spectroscopy.

One of the largest clusters of Garnets coated in yellow micro crystals of Calcite from the Prickly Pear Claim. Typically at the skarn the Garnets are locked in massive white Calcite, but this pocket was an open vug that produced hundreds of combination specimens. These specimens were originally sold under the label "Garnet Hill" as the ...

Sharp cluster of Red/Brown Garnets coated in Yellow Calcite micro crystals. This is the only remaining specimen from this pocket that hasn't been sold to the collector market.

Excellent section of massive Chrysocolla, it is very well formed and suitable for cutting.

© Rick Rowsey

This is the finest specimen of Green Chalcedony to be produced from the Claim, only one pocket has been found up to this point, it formed skeletal-like consecrations of Chalcedony with green cores. Testing showed the green color is likely from Fe (Iron).

© Rick Rowsey

Interesting layering of green/blue Chrysocolla and Drusy Quartz.

© Rick Rowsey

Nice exposed cavity of gemmy Chrysocolla that contrasts nicely with the deep red matrix with the small amounts of gold massive Chalcopyrite.

Micro Calcite coating brown/red Garnets, exact Garnet species is not yet know, further testing is needed.

Green/Brown Vesuvianite recovered from the old collector pit on the north end of the claim in 2025. In the late 90's collectors uncovered a massive white calcite vein that instead of garnets had extremely high quality Vesuvianite clusters. That section of the skarn is slated to be re-worked after the main pit is depleted.

© Rick Rowsey

Dark purple Fluorite, white Micro crystals of Calcite, and an unknown yellow mineral possibly just a different generation of Calcite. Collected Feb 2026.

© Rick Rowsey

Gemmy micro crystal of purple Fluorite coated in Calcite. Tested by MBMG and determined to be Fluorite utilizing Raman spectroscopy.

Isolated "Clinochlore?" crystal perched onto a matrix of two different generations of Calcite. First generation of calcite is heavily etched dark grey calcite, 2nd generation of calcite features small fine dogtooth crystals of calcite (UV reacts showing green). Exact species in the Chlorite group is not yet know, but leaning towards Clinochlore.

© Rick Rowsey

Sharp black/red crystals of Cuprite. Matrix is mainly Garnet, Calcite, and Chrysocolla.

© Rick Rowsey

Cluster of brown-orange Garnets and a green massive Vesuvianite, recovered from the north end of the skarn in 2013.

© Rick Rowsey

Large cluster of feldspar from the main skarn of the claim. The cluster is coated in micro calcite crystals, manganese dendrites, and a dusting of green chlorite. This is the largest feldspar to be recovered from the site yet, the feldspar vein is still going strong and not showing sign of pinching off yet. Collected February 2026 from a private ...

© Rick Rowsey

Blocky prismatic calcite crystals from the prickly pear claim, these are not micro quartz crystals as I was able to chip off some of the edge of this specimen and fully dissolve it in vinegar. The full specimen is completely covered with calcite crystals. Collected March 2026.

© Rick Rowsey

An unnamed skarn on the eastside of the mining district. Garnets, diopside and vesuvianite embedded in a blue calcite where found at this locality. Photograph taken October 5, 2012.

© John Meek/Pacific Rim Gem & Mineral LLC

BLM'S new Adit gate, they did a good job stabilizing the entrance but now the locality is locked away for the foreseeable future. The entrance was partially collapsed on my first visit to the mine.

© Rick Rowsey

Large open cut of the Elizabeth mine, directly below and surrounding this cut are several prospect pits, all shafts are collapsed or closed.

© Rick Rowsey